Philippa Harrison, piano: Education programme.

Philippa is dedicated to a number of educational programmes - seeking to familiarise young people with classical and contemporary music, and to inspire young musicians on their own paths by providing coaching and opportunities for their own performance. Philippa takes part in many educational projects around the UK as soloist, with the Willshire Duo and in collaboration with the Albany Trio. She is a member of both Chamber 2000 and Live Music Now, and also workshops independently. If you would like to discuss booking Philippa for a workshop/performance or would like more information please contact her here.

Please see below for a more detailed outline of the workshops and educational days on offer.

Willshire Duo:

The Willshire Duo comprises of wife and husband, Philippa Harrison and James Willshire. They provide and tailor make piano duo (four hands, one piano) workshops for both mainstream/SEN schools and senior residential homes.

Repertoire can include Saint Saens 'Carnival of the Animals'; Holst 'The Planets'; Faure 'Dolly Suite'; Rimsky Kosakov 'Scherezade'; Ravel 'Mother Goose' and many more. Warm-ups, interactive games and participation are all part of the workshops, with a chance for the audience to fully engage with the music. Much of the duo repertoire has a narrative that accompanies the music or a highly programmatic content that is used as a way to bring the music to life.

The Duo have previously held Piano Days at schools whereby piano students have the opportunity to work on duets with their peers, which the Willshire Duo then coach. These days concludes with a performance/workshop from the Duo and a chance for students to perform. Please see more about the Willshire Duo here.

Albany Trio:

Since its foundation, the Albany Trio has been actively involved in educational and community music work. The Trio thoroughly endorses the value and benefits of musical communication and interaction. As members of Live Music Now, they regularly perform in special needs (SEN)/mainstream schools, senior residential homes and dementia care homes.

Our school workshops aim to bring classical music to pupils in an informal and fun setting. We tailor make each workshop, fully encourage participation and question and answer sessions, and give students the chance to listen and interact to live, classical music from up close. The Albany Trio is available to hire for workshops. Performances can be aimed at diverse age groups and schools, from mainstream to SEN and can run as simple concerts, or include different levels of audience interaction and participation.

The Trio also brings music to residential homes across the UK. These sessions can range from informal concerts to residencies within care homes. The Trio often use the Desert Island Disc format and perform chosen works for individuals with an opportunity for residents to talk about what the music means to them in a group setting.

Please contact the Albany Trio here if you'd like to receive further information about our educational and residential home workshops.

Example Program Options

Saint-Saëns 'Carnival of the Animals'

A musical journey through this zoological masterpiece with interaction and storytelling. The poems for Carnival by the American poet, Ogden Nash can also be read aloud by students in-between each movement.

Instrument Introduction

A chance for students to learn more about our individual instruments. We also provide a violin suitable for pupils to try out and can bring a full size keyboard if required.

Conducting

Our conducting always proves popular with both mainstream and SEN schools. Students get to control how fast or slow we play to a variety of different music by using just one arm.

Warm up listening games

A range of musical games (some quite energetic!) aimed at focusing attention by following a musical leader, whether it be one of us or a student.

Music from around the world

A wide selection of works written for piano trio (length dependent on preference). Programme examples can include Frank Bridge 'Miniatures'; Saint-Saëns 'The Swan'; Piazolla 'Spring'; Haydn 'Gypsy Rondo'; Brahms 'Hungarian Dances'; Mozart Piano Trios; Arrangments of Rodgers and Hammerstein 'Oklahoma'; Pennies from Heaven; James Bond; Bess you is my Woman Now from Porgy and Bess; contemporary music from living and 20th century composers and many more.